P-0395 - No Fault Well Repair Fund Policy 06-04-2002-9a

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2 The Orange County Health Department will be involved in the administration of the fund in the following areas: • • Determination of well failures • Determination of the best remedy once a failure is identified • Provide technical assistance and laboratory support to the residents throughout the process • Provide information to residents on appeals options for residents not satisfied with the process • Board of Health will hear any appeals of residents who are not satisfied with the recommendations made by staff The Purchasing and Central Services Department will secure and manage the contracts with certified well contractors for actual repairs or replacement once Environmental Health has authorized the repairs or replacement. This avoids a potential conflict of interest since Environmental Health regulates well construction. The Animal Control and Environmental Health Committee of the Board of Health and the full Board reviewed the draft policy at regular meetings in January, 2002. The Board of Health approved a motion to forward the No Fault Well Repair Fund Policy to the Board of Commissioners for consideration at that time. The Board of Commissioners, at its February 19 meeting, directed the staff to receive community input regarding the draft policy and procedures and bring the policy back to the Board for consideration. Ron Holdway and Rosemary Summers met with community members on April 7. There were about 30 community members present. The community members had many concerns about the quarry operation and asked for a period of time to review the written draft and to submit comments in writing. Staff made approximately 200 copies of the draft and delivered them to an agreed upon location in the community for residents to pickup. Residents also asked to have the policy and application available on the health department's website, and these documents were posted for public access. Information and materials are attached to this abstract which detail activities and concerns discussed at the April 7 meeting. A memorandum from Planning Director Craig Benedict is also included to clarify some points made in an Empowerment Project brochure that was distributed. The written comments that were received expressed two primary concerns about the No Fault Well Repair Fund. The first was that the policy have a provision for retroactive recovery for well repairs already completed during this period of policy development, and the second requested that well pumps be included in the items covered by the policy. The staff drafted revisions to address these items, and the Board of Health considered and subsequently recommended these revisions at its April meeting. The attached draft has those revisions underlined. Also attached are materials and examples of reports that would be utilized in administration of the policy. In addition, residents submitted a signed petition that outlines other concerns of the community. Craig Benedict, the County Planning Director, has indicated that he is planning a future meeting with the community to answer questions concerning other provisions in the Special Use Permit. FINANCIAL IMPACT: Costs incurred by the health department will be charged to the fund on the same basis as though there had been an individual homeowner request. For example, a •